Travelling around Provence & Public Transport

Travelling around Provence & Public Transport

Renting a car is, undoubtedly, the best way to travel around Provence. With a picturesque village every ten minutes by car, and interesting sights around every corner, Provence is one of those places where getting lost might actually work in your favour. Many towns and villages in the region boast compact city centres that are pedestrian-friendly and ideal for exploring on foot or by bike. For example, the historic centres of Aix-en-Provence and Avignon are small enough to be explored on foot, and Marseille's Vieux-Port and Le Panier neighbourhoods are great for walking around. Arles is also a relatively small city, and its Roman amphitheatre and other ancient ruins are within walking distance of each other. However, it's worth noting that many of the cities in Provence, such as Marseille and Nice, do have efficient public transportation systems, making it easy to get around even if you're not on foot. - Marseille: Despite being one of the largest cities in France, Marseille is relatively easy to navigate with its public transport network consisting of the metro, buses, trams, trains, and ferries. The best way to get around in Marseille is by using the very efficient metro system. It has only two lines that cover the city centre and some outer districts. The metro stops at popular sites and areas, including the Vieux Port, Notre Dame du Mont Basilica, Canebière shopping district, and Prado beaches district. The metro runs between 5am and 11pm, with extended service until 12:30am on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Ticket machines can be found at most subway and tramway stations. Bus tickets can be purchased onboard from drivers. You can also buy tickets at tourist information offices and tobacco dispensers. Make sure to validate your ticket before each ride. - Nice: Buses and trams are an efficient way to travel in Nice and along the Riviera. You can buy a ticket from a bus driver as you board or from the vending machine at the tram stop. With that said, Nice is a compact city and therefore very walkable. Trains are the most comfortable and fastest way to travel along the Riviera. The station in Nice is on Avenue Thier. From here, it takes around 30 minutes to reach Cannes and Monaco.